Thread: i need Y'alls help with this whole straight razor thing

Originally Posted by ForestryProf

No Trapper,
It's MUCH worse. At last count I'm up over 60 razors, 4 brushes, and 14 creams. I also have 4 hones, two hanging strops, 2 pasted strops, and a bunch of polishing equipment. This doesn't count the stash of wood I've put down for the purpose of making scales, the dremmel and accessories for restoration....etc. The really sad part is that I try to exert substantial control over my shaving purchases.
Oh yeah, and I've only been at this since late November of 2005.

Just another data point,
Ed

I've been at it since around March of this year, and I've already accumulated near 100, and I've sold around 50 of them. 100 is what I have left. To say nothing of 4 brushes, 6 mugs, 1 scuttle, and a plethora of creams, soaps, Nortons, coticules, strops, leather for making strops, hardware for making strops, wood, brass rod, washers for making and pinning scales...well, you get the idea.

Excuse me Ed, Rich, and Joe, but the point was help Trapper NOT buy more stuff; not to make him want to catch up to you three. Or to make ME want to catch up to you three!!

Excuse me Ed, Rich, and Joe, but the point was help Trapper NOT buy more stuff; not to make him want to catch up to you three

Its ok, I can just look at them as case studies in the vein of "this could happen to you" lol

Trapper,

Goals and limitations are the key.

Every razor I've gotten for myself has either been a gift or crazy low prices. I've bought mostly at flea markets, some on ebay and some in antique stores. Most of the flea market razors I've gotten have been just good practice stuff but a few have been really nice razors and about 5 of them I've set back just because they're nice condition razors from barber supply companies from my local area back in the day. I started with a leather belt for stropping. I've hand made 2 strops from scratch. The first cost me about 6 bucks and the 2nd about 14 or so (bought extra hardware). I have a used Norton 4000/8000 combo stone.

I'm setting up a nice birthday gift for my son. This is the only thing i've spent a lot of money on and I had started setting money aside for it months ago. When my other boys get to that age I'll do likewise for them.

I'm working on getting a 7 razor rotation set then I'll be happy. Once I'm finished it will include 3 Clauss razors (a 6/8 from Joe Chandler, and two 13/16, one fixed by Bill Ellis), a W&B 13/16 diamond edge wedge, an 8/8 W&B hollow ground, a 6/8 Fabyan quarter ground, and either a 6/8 or larger dovo, or a nice meat chopper. I've got my eye on 1 meat chopper but the guy wants 80 bucks for it and it needs a lot of work so I'll likely not get that one.

I've decided the best road to happiness on this train is to be realistic. I would LOVE to have one of Maestro Livi's damascus steel razors with ivory and abalone or some other really nice material. I'll likely never have one unless the work situation clears up really nicely.

I'll shoot for a 7 razor set as described above and possibly a Maestro Livi damascus steel razor before I die. If I see razors that I think I can restore and sell for a small profit I'll likely try that. If I see a razor I can get cheaply and have on hand for a n00bie in need I'll likely fix it and stash it away until a needy n00b happens along or until a give away drive starts.

I've already got a jig saw, several hand operated wood craft saws, sanders, dremmels, and a few other tools that can probably get me through making scales so I'm going to try that with material I have on hand thanks to Bill's guide on his website and his restoration CD. black & decker sells a variable speed rotary tool that uses dremmel attachments for about 20 bucks.

If you feel the addiction hitting hard then go visit a flea market and see what you can get for 5 bucks or less. I've talked fellows down from 30 bucks to 5 bucks on razors at flea markets. I just take a really nice razor that I've gotten for 5 bucks with me and show it to them when their razors are over priced. Some tell me to **** off but some will deal.

So far I only have a few razors 4 now, soon to be 8 2 brushes both under $30.00 one mug (soon to be two) and about 20 different creams and soaps (at least 15 of them are from Colleen as samples)

So Ive realized that I am behind the curve and I need more....and I didnt feel guilty about that at all until FUD had to make his speech...killjoy...

Guilt isn't necessary.

If you've got it to enjoy and don't mind doing so then enjoy it.

I enjoy getting good deals and being frugal just as much as I've enjoyed the shaving experience with a str8. I love bikes too but I'll likely never afford another Harley. I've come to terms that my love of bikes outweighs my sense of loyalty to H&D. When I can afford it I'll likely get a low riding virago or some other low riding yamaha, unless I get a really good job or great contracts .

You people are are all sick and are in extreme need of professional help. I was about to give you all some advice to cure your affliction but I have to go back on Eboy and drool over that grim reaper I just won and then check in with Vlad on my razor box for my overflow of razors.

Originally Posted by RichZ

Trapper,

Remember you can never be too thin, too rich or have too many razors...

That explains why you will never be too rich!

RT

Randy,

Truer words were never spoken....

Originally Posted by RichZ

Randy,

Truer words were never spoken....

Its like a downward spiral.....We are the same as AA....if it were made up of all enablers, and there was a full open bar at every meeting...